Peter Koch, printer and publisher of fine press and artist books, founding director of the biennial Codex International Book Fair and Symposium, delivers an illustrated talk, "Codex: Embodied Language and the Form of the Book," on the role of the book as a work of art in contemporary practice, and discusses how he and friends started the Codex Foundation in Berkeley, the world's most important global marketplace for fine press books, artists books, and fine art editions, Berkeley Art Museum, 2155 Center Street, Berkeley, lecture included with museum admission, 3:00 (www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/event/codex-embodied-language-and-form-book#)

A Day of Affirmation, a communal reading of the Constitution of the United States, copies available in the store, a positive discussion on "means of defending the Republic" follows, coffee and doughnuts, The Rebound Bookstore, 1611 4th Street, San Rafael, San Francisco, 10:00 a.m.-noon (415/482-0550, reboundbookstore@aol.com)

Anastasia Aukeman discusses and celebrates Welcome to Painterland: Bruce Conner and the Rat Bastard Protective Association, on the group of artists who lived in the same building in San Francisco in the 1950s and 1960s and spearheaded avant-garde art in the Bay Area, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 5:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)

Poetry Express presents an open reading on the writing prompt "Dark Matter"; Prompt Nights "the group nominates a work which then is eligible for publication in our online magazine at the end of the year," hosted by Liz Alford, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (PoetryExpress@gmail.com, poetryexpressberkeley.blogspot.com)

John Hart celebrates and reads from his second poetry book, Storm Camp, on his experiences as a rock climber and mountaineer, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, free, 7:00 (415/927-0960, www.bookpassage.com)

Tuesdays at North Beach, a weekly poetry series celebrating international poets and showcasing local talent, presents a reading by Greg Pond and George Long, curated by Jack Hirschman, North Beach Branch Library, 850 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, 6:30 (415/522-8602, www.friendssfpl.org/events/tuesdays-at-north-beach.html)

Martin and Dorothie Hellman discuss the secrets that allowed them to reclaim true love from a marriage on the brink of failure, A New Map for Relationships, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, free, 7:00 (415/927-0960, www.bookpassage.com)

Celebrate the life and work of Scottish poet Leonard George Irving (1924-2016), who recently died at 92, come tell a favorite memory or read a poem in his honor, his poems will be on hand, plus a recording of him reading and a photo gallery, Sacred Ground Coffee House, 2095 Hayes Street, San Francisco, free, 7:00-9:00

Will Schwalbe reads from Books for Living, his personal celebration of reading and how it helps to make sense of the world, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)

Heavy Breathing Reading Group is a launch event for the Heavy Breathing Reader, a compilation of writing and art that responds to the recent series of Heavy Breathing workshops (combining somatic exercise with critical discourse) at BAMPFA, with poet and performer Claudia La Rocco, The Best Most Useless Dress and petit cadeau, editor of SFMOMA's Open Space, and other guest artists, Berkeley Art Museum, 2155 Center Street, Berkeley, event included with museum admission, 6:00-8:00 (www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/event/heavy-breathing-reading-group)

The Ina Coolbrith Circle meeting features poet David Alpaugh, in a reading and talk, "Let There Be Light (Verse)!" on the light verse and the work of Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll, Ogden Nash, and Dorothy Parker, Lafayette/Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette, 2:00 (www.coolpoetry.org)

Paulette Jiles reads from her new novel, News of the World, longlisted for the National Book Award in Fiction, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, free, 4:00 (415/927-0960, www.bookpassage.com)

Bay Area Generations presents writers of different generations in pairs through its submission-based reading series, curated by Amos White and Sherry Wilson, submissions for this reading closed January 1, see guidelines on their website, full bar, Hotel Rex, 562 Sutter Street, San Francisco, $7/$10 admission with chapbook of work by the readers, doors open 7:00, show 7:30 (Hotel Rex: 415/433-4434, bayareagenerations.com)

Susan Sherman reads from her second novel, If You Are There, set in early 1900s Paris and featuring the great Marie and Pierre Curie, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, free, 7:00 (415/927-0960, www.bookpassage.com)